Monday, April 30, 2012

I can't begin to guess how many times a person will move in their life, but I think it's safe to say the average person will likely move 3-5 times in their life. I always used to count the move from the hospital home post-birth as one, but now I think that's a little ridiculous. The basic moves that I think most people will face in their lives are the following:

Perhaps sometime before college

To college (I realize many stay at home and go to a junior college, but still...)

Either back home, or to a new place post-college (again, I realize, not everyone)

Post-college

Another after college

Time to start your own family and move

This is 100% a generalization, and doesn't even apply to my life. In my life I have had the following moves:

7th or 8th grade my family moved into a new home

August 2007 - moved from Stockton to a dorm in Chico for college

May 2008 - moved back home for summer

August 2008 - moved into a house in Chico

May 2009 - moved back home for summer/my things into a storage unit

September 2009 - moved to Spain to study abroad

December 2009 - moved into a different apartment in Spain (new area, new roomies)

May 2010 - moved back to the United States, Chico, new college house --> worst experience ever!

June 2011 - moved to LA for the summer (internship w/ Disney/ABC)

August 2011 - moved back up to Chico

February 2012 - half-moved back to LA into my uncles' house / all my "stuff" into a storage unit

So as you can see, this, like most things in my life, has been done to an extreme that most people will not endure. Eleven moves in 23 years, most taking place in the last six. How horrifying, and fortunate. :) So when I say, "I am so tired of moving," do not think that I am simply talking about your basic college-moves. The ones abroad, namely the one returning, were total havoc.

And now, it is time for me to move once more. All of my belongings are back in a storage unit, and the time has come that I find a place in LA that I can call my own. This weekend I am hitting the pavement hard, literally, with my happy feet, to knock on those complex doors and get myself a place! What an adventure it will be, especially considering that the last 2 months have severely raised my standards. 8X But like anything in life, it is a challenge and adventure that I look forward to conquering! Game on!

Today's Poetic Snippet: This life is a ride, a roller coaster of sorts. And this weekend I'm taking on the apartment hunt, in my short shorts! ;)

Friday, April 27, 2012

Ever since graduating I get hit sometimes with these very strange mental moods. The kind that leaves me feeling a little lost in the world, a little unsure if I'm on the right path, a little frustrated that what I really want always seems to be a little out of reach, and a little restless with where I'm at. I am comforted in knowing that I am not alone in these feelings, nor will I be the last person to face them. And while sometimes they may cause me to slip into a place with a little too much anxiety, I ultimately am grateful for them. They allow me to examine my life, my values, my goals, my hopes and dreams, and cause me to ponder, plot, and pray.

This is the natural progression of life. The crossroads we all come to at some point. On the one hand is the corporate mentality, ready to start the next chapter and begin to grow into the intended adult. The other, the rebelling youth, wanting to hold onto the spontaneous and wild ways.

I have always prided myself on being the kind of person to recognize "the time and the place" and act accordingly. But now, as I am presented with my greatest opportunity to do so, I find myself fighting against it very often with everything that is within me. One half tells me that I am young, 23-years young. Full of life, love, curiosity, and desire. I want to explore every surface of the Earth, know its every mountain range, river, and people. Then there is the other half that tells me to grow up, that I am 23-years old. Graduated from college and working 40 hours a week in a corporate job. Presented with a rare, incredible opportunity that can set my life in motion. I have big plans of achievement, and this is a great place to start them. These two halves collide constantly, presenting the most difficult battle a person can face -- one that takes place within.

But when I think about it, it always has been, and always will be, about balance. Finding the balance between that wild, free spirit that fills you, and that focused, ambitious spirit that drives you. Finding a balance that will enable you to apply the untamed and unwilling part of yourself, without letting it take over, and apply the realistic and knowledgeable part of yourself, without fully conforming to its structure.

Life is about embracing who and what you are, and applying every ounce of it to everything you do, so you may do it as best you can.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

This past weekend I had one of the most amazing life-experiences to date -- I went to the Coachella Music Festival for the first time. Coachella is an event that I have been aware of and wanting to go to for about 4 or 5 years now, but never managed to make. Our group ranged from 2-20 at any given time, and there were about 18 of us sleeping in one beautiful house. The group was amazing, as always, and we had a splendid time.

I wasn't really sure what to expect of the weekend, but what I didn't expect was to have such a well-rounded experience. The performances ranged from different subcategories of EDM (electronic dance music), indie, rock, and more. I feared that my weekend would be completely filled with EDM and I wouldn't get my indie fix, but it was quite the contrary. Some of the highlight acts for me included The Black Keys, The Rapture, Madeon, Radiohead, Bon Iver, The Shins, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, SBTRKT, Sub Focus, Dr. Dre & Snoop, Justice, Modeselektor, arraabMUZIK, Nero, Minnesota, and Company Flow. Those are just some of the talent that performed over the three-day period at the 5 stages, and I'm sure there are many others I heard and loved, but don't know who they were.

Bon Iver is one of my all-time favorites, and the set did not disappoint! His voice is just as beautiful live as it is on disc, and they put on one hell of a show. "Skinny Love" and "Blood Bank" happen to be two of my three favorite Bon Iver songs of all time, and I was blessed enough to hear them both back-to-back while being held in a sweet, loving embrace. It was such a euphoric moment. I couldn't stop grinning and smiling and thinking, "I am one lucky gal!"

Each act that I saw brought some element of WOW to my life, and left me with such a sense of satisfaction in one way or another. The only downfall of the weekend was the 105*+ weather we faced each day. Drinking water, squirting ourselves with squirt guns, and blasting my face with my $2.99 hand fan could not eliminate the overpowering heat. I have never been so completely drenched by my own sweat in my entire life, or known it was possible to survive such heat. But, when the day started to burn off and the night creep in, the temperature cooled off so nicely, and the wind was warm and inviting.

When I think about the weekend I don't remember the terrible heat and slight bro-overdose, I remember the special and cherished times that I had with some of the most exquisite people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I am unsure if I will return to Coachella next year, but I am so grateful to have been able to experience it once in my life. I suggest that everyone try and attend at least once, it is worthwhile.

Today's Quote: "Live the life you love, like you can't get enough" -"Give Me A Sign"

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Now, I know that there are some people out there that are just not genetically programmed to sweat, and these people ARE NOT FROM HERE! Believe me, I mean that in the kindest way possible, and from the very deepest, darkest, most jealous corners of my heart. I cannot comprehend how some people will leave their waist-length hair down, wear skinny jeans, dance all night on the overly-crowded dance floor, and not have a single drop of salty moisture running down any part of their bodies. You people out there are so lucky, I can't even look at you. Because there I will be, bra completely soaked and weighing more than it should because Victoria's Secret can't make a bra without adding 10 layers of padding to it (sorry guys, it is NOT all natural, and THAT is Victoria's Secret), no trace of make up left on my face except for some smeared eyeliner and mascara (which I consider lucky because it shows I actually had some on at some point. Hmm..double-edged sword now that I think about it.), hair dripping like I just took a dip, and red in the face like I just ate a whole case of habaneros.

A.D.D. Drift: It's been a while since I threw one of these down, but I have to for this... "habaneros," according to Google Chrome, is not a real word. So it suggests that I change it to either one of two words I can't even begin to pronounce, "handovers," or "headbangers." Hahah. Sorry, I think I find this mostly hilarious because as of last summer, I dedicated my life and soul to dubstep, drum and bass, and all other music forms that are heavy on the bass, therefore resulting in my adopting headbanging as my move of choice. And now, back on track...

So as I was saying, going to a club, or dance bar, or show for me is quite a stressful situation. Luckily there is always a little liquid courage to help me not think about how utterly disgusting I look, but that doesn't eliminate the fact that I am, in essence, a wet dog on the dance floor. It is such a shame to wear out some really hot, wonderful, utterly uncomfortable heels with a nice little skirt/top or dress, do my hair, actually put on eyeshadow, and head out the door thinking, "dang, I can really clean up when I want to," just to walk inside the humid establishment and start to sweat within the first minutes of my first dance. I do not feel attractive, I do not want to dance, and I do not want to think about or see how nasty the air inside is. And that, my friends, I think is the reason why so many college-aged people are black-out drunks. No one wants to think, see, or feel what they actually look like, are, and have become, so they continue to toss them back to get over any inhibitions and insecurities they have. I have seen it many times. To be a not-blacked-out-drunk at the bars or clubs is SO entertaining and I highly suggest that everyone try it (even for just half a night). Another little drift, I know.

All I'm saying is, it is SO awkward to try and look and act hot when you are so clearly in need of a shower. But will that ever stop us? Heck no! [DANCEPANTS4LYF<3] We will just continue to snag bar napkins and blot when we can, take frequent trips to the ladies' room to "touch up," and hope that you have consumed far more than us and don't even care, so long as you can escape the sausage-fest you came with and get a little estrogen in your atmosphere.